Angels right-hander Jered Weaver said the arbitration process was "interesting, kind of fun in a way." TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, FILE PHOTO

TEMPE, Ariz.

Players began arriving at the Angels' spring training complex Sunday with the usual assortment of physical issues both good (catcher Bobby Wilson dropped 33 pounds) and bad (Kendry Morales is "not running 100 percent" yet, according to manager Mike Scioscia).

But the Angels seem to have avoided one potential issue -- Jered Weaver does not appear to be carrying a chip on his shoulder after losing his arbitration case last week.

"It was interesting – kind of fun in a way," said Weaver who attended the four-hour hearing in Arizona Wednesday, listening as both sides made their cases. The arbitrator sided with the Angels and their $7.365 million offer. (Weaver had sought $8.8 million.)

"It wasn't like sitting in math class where I wasn't paying attention. It was interesting. It's one of those things I wish I didn't have to do. But the game has become very business-oriented and the biggest thing I learned is that business is business."

Weaver would not answer questions about what the Angels had used to win their case despite the fact that the 28-year-old right-hander emerged as the staff ace in 2010, making his first All-Star team while going 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA and a major-league leading 233 strikeouts. But he said it was "nothing I didn't hear already, wasn't too harsh" and nothing that "bothered me too much."

"I've got a pretty thick skin," he said. "We told them how we felt. The Angels told them how they felt and the arbitrators agreed with what the Angels said.

"It's nothing against the Angels, nothing against me. I hope they'd say the same thing. It's not going to change the way I go about my business."

Weaver will be eligible for arbitration again next winter and is not eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season. The Angels did begin discussions on a multi-year contract extension this winter but "from my understanding, it never went anywhere," according to Weaver who said his agent, Scott Boras, never gave him any contract figures to think about from those discussions.

The relationship between Boras and the Angels (owner Arte Moreno, in particular) is clearly strained. But Weaver said he doesn't "concentrate on that" and remains "open" to negotiating a multi-year deal at some point in the future.

"I would love to play with the Angels for a long time and I think they know that," Weaver said. "But that (contract talks) is not something I want hanging over head during the season."

AYBAR SURGERY

Position players recovering from off-season surgeries are allowed to report early with pitchers and catchers so Kendry Morales (still recovering from a fractured ankle) and outfield prospect Chris Pettit (labrum surgery in his right shoulder last March) are in camp this weekend – and so is shortstop Erick Aybar.

Though it went unmentioned by the Angels until Sunday, Aybar had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee shortly after the end of the 2010 season.

Aybar's surgery was described as a minor "clean-out" process and it is not expected to affect his spring preparations. His left knee was injured on June 14 when Brewers infielder Casey McGehee slid into him on a play at second base. Aybar hyperextended his knee and an MRI later revealed meniscus damage.

The shortstop missed just eight games with the injury but struggled in the second half of the season (with a groin injury late in the year adding to his troubles). Aybar was batting .272 at the time of the run-in with McGehee but batted just .234 in 74 games after the injury, losing his hold on the Angels' leadoff spot in the process.

WEIGHTY MATTERS

It is a spring tradition for a players to boast of being in "the best shape of my career" at this time of year – but the difference in Wilson was startling. The backup catcher hired a nutritionist and went to work on a training regimen just a week after last season ended and reported to camp 33 pounds lighter (down from 243 pounds).

"I just stopped eating (junk)," he said. "I dropped 10 or 12 pounds in the first week and then it was pretty steady two or three pounds a week every week after that.

"I feel great. It's very exciting actually. Everything fits now."

Wilson (who also got married on Dec. 4 – the same day as teammate Brandon Wood) said he was motivated by the chance to compete for more playing time this season. With Mike Napoli traded, Jeff Mathis is the incumbent starter at catcher. But he offers little offensively and regressed defensively after an early-season wrist injury last year.

"It's a positive," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Wilson's weight loss. "It's not just losing weight. Bobby worked very hard to trim up and stay strong and be flexible. He'll do things easier. It's a battle a lot of us have fought."

Reliever Kevin Jepsen also slimmed down over the off-season, dropping from 242 to 228 pounds.

NOTES

Angels pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout on Monday. ... Morales has been cleared for defensive work and "as far as swinging the bat, he's full go" from both sides, Scioscia said. But Morales is "not running 100 percent yet" and the Angels will handle him carefully in workouts. "As a baseball decision, we don't see the advantage of (having him participate fully in workouts at this point)," Scioscia said.

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